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Ornge

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An early production Sikorsky S-76A owned by CHC Helicopter and used in the Ontario air ambulance role in August 2007. The aircraft is in an earlier Ontario Air Ambulance paint scheme

Ornge (formerly Ontario Air Ambulance) is the air ambulance service for the province of Ontario and for the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care (Ontario). The provision of ambulance services in Ontario is governed by the Ambulance Act.

Under the Act, the Minister of Health and Long Term Care must ensure that “the existence throughout Ontario of a balanced and integrated system of ambulance services and communication services used in dispatching ambulances.”

History

The air ambulance program was established in 1977 to serve remote areas primarily in Northern Ontario that are inaccessible to land ambulances or that land ambulances would take too long to reach. Ontario was the first Canadian province to provide a helicopter-based air ambulance system to transport critically ill patients to hospital. Air ambulances are also used to transport medical teams and organs for transplant. A large part of the air ambulance service is involved in serving the aboriginal communities, of which there are approximately 140, in Northern Ontario.

The Ministry operated an air ambulance dispatch centre located in Toronto until Ornge took over and MATC became the Ornge Communications Center.

Today, the air ambulance program has become an integral component of the larger emergency health system in communities across the Province.

Aircraft Fleet

An Ornge Sikorsky S-76A C-GIMT (in old livery) preparing to receive a patient at Toronto/Buttonville Municipal Airport.
An Ornge Sikorsky S-76A C-GIMW lifting off at Toronto/Buttonville Municipal Airport.
An Ornge Sikorsky S-76A in old livery sitting on the helipad at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre.

On August 28, 2008 Ornge announced the purchase of ten new AgustaWestland AW139 helicopters to replace their fleet of Sikorsky S-76 helicopters[1], to be delivered over a period of two years from late 2010.[2] The S-76 helicopters were previously owned and operated by Canadian Helicopters, but are now owned by Ornge and operated by Canadian Helicopters. The S-76 helicopters will be serviced by Canadian Helicopters until April 2012, with the possibility of a further two-year extension.[2]

Helicopters

Eleven Sikorsky S-76s[1] located at:

From the first long weekend of the summer to Labour Day one of the Toronto crews is relocated and based out of Muskoka Airport for the increased number of trauma calls in cottage country during this period.[4]

Fixed-wing aircraft

As of the end of 2009, Ornge has begun operating its own fleet of Pilatus PC-12NG fixed-wing aircraft from its bases in Thunder Bay, Sioux Lookout and Timmins. These aircraft have replaced the fleet from Voyageur Airways which formerly operated from Sioux Lookout and Timmins. [5]

Standing agreement aircraft

Additional aircraft are available under the Standing Agreement (as and when required) contract with other operators:

Aircraft inventory

Template:Standard table ! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Aircraft ! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Country of Manufacture ! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Type ! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|In Service[6] ! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Notes |----- | AgustaWestland AW139 |  United States | | 10 | On order for delivery in late 2010 |----- | Sikorsky S-76 |  United States | multi-purpose medium-size commercial helicopter | 12 | contract with Canadian Helicopters Income Fund. |----- | Pilatus PC-12 |  Switzerland | single engine turboprop | 6 | owned and operated by Ornge |----- | Cessna 421 |  United States | twin engine light transport aircraft | 1 | Brock Air Services |----- | Beechcraft King Air A100 |  United States | twin engine turboprop/light utility aircraft | 6 | operated by Wabusk Air and Thunder Airlines |----- | Cessna 208B Grand Caravan |  United States | single engine turboprop light transport aircraft | 1 | operated by Thunder Airlines |----- | Mitsubishi MU-2 |  Japan | twin engine turboprop | 4 | operated by Thunder Airlines |----- | Lear Jet 36A |  United States | twin engine business jet | 1 | Fox Flight Air Ambulance |----- | Lear Jet 35A |  United States | twin engine business jet | 1 | Fox Flight Air Ambulance |}

Labour Relations

Ornge Paramedics are represented by the Canadian Auto Workers Local 2002. Their second collective agreement was ratified in December 2009 and is in force until October 31, 2012.[7]

Other Canadian Provinces

There are some differences between the organizational structure of air ambulance services in the other provinces of Canada:

  • BC Ambulance Service In British Columbia the air and ground ambulance service is combined into one service, unlike in Ontario where they are separately organized and separately funded.
  • Alberta Air Ambulance Service The Department of Health and Wellness contracts dedicated private sector air ambulance providers according to contract agreements. The Workers' Compensation Board covers air ambulance services for workers.
  • First Nations communities across Canada have air ambulance service (where available in a particular province or territory) paid for by Health Canada. In northern Canada, Canadian Forces search and rescue aircraft are occasionally tasked to provide air transportation.

References

  1. ^ a b "Ornge purchases new fleet of high performance medically equipped helicopters - Signals a new era in transport medicine for Ontario patients" (PDF) (Press release). Ornge. 2008-08-25. Retrieved 2008-08-30.
  2. ^ a b "Ornge and Canadian Helicopters Income Fund Announce Agreement in Principle" (PDF) (Press release). Ornge. 2008-09-03. Retrieved 2009-08-20.
  3. ^ Air Ambulance Will Move From Toronto To Hamilton
  4. ^ "Ornge gets closer to the action" (Press release). Ornge. 2007-05-18. Retrieved 2009-08-24.
  5. ^ "ORNGE DEPLOYS PILATUS PC‐12 AIRCRAFT IN TIMMINS" (PDF). ORNGE. Retrieved 24 December 2009.
  6. ^ "World Military Aircraft Inventory", Aerospace Source Book 2007, Aviation Week & Space Technology, January 15, 2007.
  7. ^ http://www.caw2002tca.ca/ornge.aspx

Media related to Ornge at Wikimedia Commons

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